1. IB Languages at KES
An Introduction

4. Course availability 2012-2013
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French  
Spanish   
German   
Italian 

5. Qualified to teach
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French
DJA JLA HJC
CMLD PJE KDP
Spanish CRB HJC AE FCL RET
German JLA AXH JH FCL
Italian CMLD

6. Periods per week
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 4 6
Spanish 4 6 4
German 4 6 4
Italian 4

7. Number of teachers
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 1 2
Spanish 1 2 1
German 1 2 1
Italian 1
Subject to timetabling constraints

8. Suitable for students with IGCSE grade
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French B A*
Spanish B A* n/a
German B A* n/a
Italian n/a

9. SL/HL Course aims

10. SL/HL Course outline

11. SL/HL : a possible course structure

12. SL/HL : text types
Although there are topics, the course is
not organised around them.
The central organising principle of IB
languages is text types.

13. Text types : some examples
Article, Blog, Diary entry, Brochure,
Leaflet, Flyer, Pamphlet, Advertisement,
Essay, Interview, Speech, Presentation,
News report, Official report, Review, Set
of instructions, Guidelines, Formal letter,
Informal letter.

14. SL exams

15. HL exams

16. Ab initio

17. Ab initio

18. Ab initio : some text types
Advertisement, Notice, Article from magazine,
Novel, Blog, Picture, Book, Poem, Brochure,
Postcard, Diary, Poster, Email, Questionnaire,
Essay, Radio programme, Film, Recipe, Flyer,
Report, Interview, Review, Invitation, Short
story, Label, Social networking site, Formal
letter, Informal letter, Song, List, Speech, Map,
Survey, Menu, Timetable, Message, Travel
guide, Note, Web page…

19. Ab initio : exams

20. Challenges
All three courses (AI, SL, HL) are as challenging
as each other, but in different ways.
Ab initio, in particular, should not be seen as
an easy option. It is not!
All three courses set demanding standards and
the top grades can only be achieved by the
most hard-working of students.

21. Advice : Higher Level
Only take HL if you have a track record of success in
languages and are considered by your teachers to be
an able and committed linguist.
Do not consider HL if you are likely to get anything
below an A* at IGCSE.
This course is extremely demanding, but hugely
rewarding for those with the right skills, motivation
and determination. It is the ideal route to language
study at university.

22. Advice : Standard Level
SL is usually the best option for most students. It is
accessible to those with an A or a B at IGCSE. It
allows you to build on the years you have already
invested in language study.
It is a challenging course. You will be expected to
reach similar levels of competence to those on the HL
course, but you will cover less ground on the way.
The exams are shorter too.
SL is the ideal course for non-specialist linguists.

23. Advice : Ab initio
Ab initio is the course to consider if it is more
important to you to make a fresh start than to build
on past success.
It is a demanding course. You will be expected to
reach a standard beyond that of IGCSE in only 4-5
terms of study. That’s a tall order, but achievable if
you are prepared to work hard and invest an
appropriate amount of time in language study
outside the classroom.

24. Course numbers, Divisions 2011-2012
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 57 11
Spanish 10 5 18
German 4 3 0
Italian 7

25. Course numbers, Divisions 2010-2011
Standard (SL) Higher (HL) Ab initio (AI)
French 30 11
Spanish 13 27 9
German 8 4 0
Italian 13